Construction Manager General Contractor (CMGC) Characteristics and Effective Practices in Transportation Sector

The United States (U.S.) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) every day counts (EDC) identified the construction manager general contractor (CMGC) as a unique project delivery method to accelerate the delivery of highway projects and to address the challenges presented by limited budgets. State transportation agencies (STAs) recognize CMGC has more benefits than challenges and many are exploring and using CMGC on highway projects. Many research efforts have found benefits and challenges from owner’s perspectives. However, limited research has focused on characteristics and effective practices of successful CMGC projects from perspectives of design professionals and general contractors. Both designers and contractors with limited CMGC experience need more guidance to optimize the value of CMGC project delivery for the owner. The scope of this study is to identify CMGC characteristics and effective practices by conducting literature reviews of successful CMGC projects and semi-structured interviews with design professionals and general contractors. Qualitative analysis formulates a two-dimensional framework for CMGC characteristics. These two dimensions are static project characteristics and dynamic team characteristics. Static project characteristics include cost-effectiveness, schedule sensitivity, innovation, constructability review, and risk management. Dynamic team characteristics include leadership, teamwork cycle, and culture of trust. The teamwork cycle consists of communication, collaboration, and integration for CMGC effective practices include a new model, general protocols, and specific practices. This paper summarized CMGC characteristics and effective practices for future project and team selections, proper risk allocation, and overall project success using CMGC project delivery method. The CMGC characteristics and effective practices will help both owner and contractors use CMGC to deliver highway projects with reduced cost, accelerated schedule, and improved quality and satisfaction.